BUNGLING energy officials have sent a huge two-year gas bill to an elderly couple dating back before they even moved into their home.

George and Barbara McLoughlin, 76 and 68, of Albert Street, Beswick, were sent a demand for £790 from British Gas for the period August 2004-6.

But they only began living at the address from October 2004 and are bang up to date with payments anyway.

The mistaken demand - for which British Gas has apologised - arrived two months after the couple were threatened with having their supply cut off over another bill mix up in September.

Barbara said: "We've no idea why this has happened, it's got to the stage where we are thinking what's going to go wrong next. This would be a large bill for anyone but for elderly people it's really big.

"The joke is someone from British Gas rang up the other day to ask how satisfied we were with their service, the answer was 'not very'."

The couple have now switched their gas supplier.

In September the couple were threatened with being cut off over a £265 bill sent to their home but addressed to Lovell Partnerships Ltd, who built the property.

Barbara was originally told she did not have to pay but was then sent a final demand threatening disconnection.

The couple paid and British Gas apologised with a bouquet of flowers for misinforming them initially.

Barbara added: "All this is very confusing, I've paid up to date. Anyway we don't use much gas, only one cooker ring for vegetables, the boiler and a couple of hours for the central heating now it's getting cold."

The McLoughlins only moved to Albert Street after a compulsory purchase order forced them out of their home of 46 years at nearby Bosworth Street.

A spokesman for British Gas said: "It seems that we had an inaccurate meter reading registered and as a result a large bill was sent out.

"We've taken a new, accurate reading and will rebill the McLoughlins accordingly. We've apologised for this mix-up and will reduce their bill by £40 as a gesture of goodwill."